Creating Windows Service Applications Using Delphi

Service applications take requests from client applications, process those requests, and return information to the client applications. They typically run in the background without much user input.

Windows services, known also as NT services, offer long-running executable applications that run in their own Windows sessions. These services can be automatically started when the computer boots, can be paused and restarted, and do not show any user interface. 

Service Applications Using Delphi

Use Delphi to create service applications:

• Create a service, install and uninstall the service application, make the service do something, and debug the service application using the TService.LogMessage method.
• Develop a Windows service using Delphi and register it with Windows.
• Start and stop a Windows service using Delphi to call Win32 functions, for those cases when you must restart one or more services to avoid conflicts at the operating-system level.
• Retrieve all currently installed services to help both the end user and Delphi programs respond appropriately to the presence, absence or status of specific Windows services.
• Generate advanced status reporting for running Windows services. The OpenSCManager() and OpenService() functions highlight Delphi's flexibility with the Windows platform.

More About Windows Services and Delphi

Although Delphi is optimized more for typical user-fronted applications, the programming language remains capable of creating service applications. Newer versions of Windows (especially Windows 10) have tightened the rules that service applications have to play by, relative to Windows XP and Windows Vista.

If you develop service applications using Delphi, review Microsoft's current technical documentation to orient yourself to best practices for Windows 10 and Windows Server.